I’ll graduate with 24 (former entrepreneur, dropped off to work so most interviewers understand) in a crappy for-profit Brazilian University, just for information I’m the first student ever enrolled and passed at CFA Level I and probably the single one as intern in the bank that I’m working (got this opportunity by networking, not by my academic credentials).
As you imagine, the headhunters don’t see this very well and most of job applications forms don’t have the field to put that you passed any level of CFA. I’m very secure of my skills and knowledge, but I know that my University will not get me anywhere and even close some doors, so I’m thinking about studying or statistics or math in a more respected college or enroll in a master degree in economics.
I’m already late, so a new bachelor would cost me more time but securely would eliminate this crap of my resume and a master’s could not have the desired impact in my professional life. What’s your opinion?
A second bachelors degree is not common in the United States. My advice is to attempt to go through the best Masters /graudate program you can get into. In regards to CFA, you will have the most benefit when you have the full Charter…
It really depends on what you want to do (i.e. what industry you want to work in, what job function you prefer to have, what is more important for you in life and …). Normally people care about your last degree. This being said, if you go to a good graduate program, that is what really matters on your resume. I do not recommend doing a second bachelors program because at the end of the day it gives you another bachelors degree which has the same value that high school diploma had 30-40 years ago!
You’re young so don’t get caught up in the I need more school to get a better job or I need to pass level I in order to be taken seriously. Focus on getting work experience first so it shows that you can hold a job and you are a responsible individual. After a few years re-visit the Masters program.
Yes, I think the same thing. However, most of entry level positions on investment industry are filtered by University, they prefer to think that on average, interviewing people from target schools should yield better candidates profiles(which is true, in average). And I agree with the bachelor’s be the same of high school degree years ago, for me if you graduate from a target schools just tell that you are not a retarded (on average, again) and you will not lose time and other resources interviewing this person and it’s sound great for marketing when you put the team description in your website and states that your Jr Analyst is from Harvard Business School. For me, the CFA Level I can at least indicate that I’m not the average student of my university, but does anyone look at it? I really doubt it, since it’s a lot of applicants, a computer makes the first cut.